by InTrieste
In a groundbreaking revelation, researchers have uncovered direct evidence that ancient Egyptians intentionally used psychotropic substances in their religious rituals, providing new insights into the spirituality of one of the world’s oldest civilizations. This discovery, made through the application of cutting-edge scientific techniques, offers a dramatic shift in our understanding of Egyptian religious practices and the cultural exchanges that shaped them.
For the first time, evidence of psychotropic substances used in rituals was found in a 2,000-year-old vessel from Ptolemaic Egypt. The research, led by Enrico Greco, a professor of environmental chemistry and cultural heritage at the University of Trieste, was published in Scientific Reports and supported by several institutions, including the Tampa Museum of Art, the University of South Florida, and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste. The study was also backed by the European Research Infrastructure Consortium CERIC-ERIC.
The study’s findings were made possible through advanced scientific techniques, including proteomics, metabolomics, and infrared spectroscopy, allowing researchers to identify chemical traces preserved in the vessel’s ceramic pores. The vessel itself, decorated with the grotesque face of the Egyptian god Bes—often associated with protection and fertility—was found to contain traces of substances known for their psychoactive properties, such as Peganum harmala (Syrian rue), Nymphaea nouchali (blue water lily), and Cleome species, all used for their medicinal and mind-altering effects.
These substances were likely mixed with fermented liquids or ingredients such as honey and royal jelly, suggesting they were part of elaborate, possibly transformative, rituals designed to induce altered states of consciousness. The analysis also uncovered traces of human fluids, including blood and mucosal proteins, providing further evidence that the vessel was used in symbolic rituals linked to fertility and spiritual enlightenment.
“This discovery is a major breakthrough in our understanding of Egyptian religious life,” said Greco, who spearheaded the study. “For the first time, we have physical evidence that these substances were deliberately used to reach visionary states, connect with the divine, and even possibly foresee the future. It also sheds light on the sophisticated knowledge ancient Egyptians had about natural resources and their effects on the human mind.”
While ancient Egyptian use of psychotropic substances had been suggested in the past through iconography and textual references, this study provides the first direct, scientific evidence of such practices. By connecting these findings to similar traditions found across the Mediterranean and Near East, the researchers also suggest a broader cultural exchange that influenced the religious and medical knowledge of ancient civilizations.
The research team utilized innovative techniques, including synchrotron light and plant DNA analysis, to analyze trace amounts of chemical compounds within the vessel. According to Chiaramaria Stani, a researcher at CERIC-ERIC, these methods allowed them to extract remarkably preserved traces, despite the minimal residue left in the ceramic.
“The key to this discovery was the highly interdisciplinary approach we used,” said Stani. “By combining modern scientific techniques with historical, linguistic, and cultural analysis, we were able to uncover information that traditional archaeology alone could not reveal.”
The vessel itself was found to be decorated with Bes, an ancient Egyptian god often associated with fertility, protection, and family. Traditionally seen as a deity of domestic life, Bes’s appearance on the vessel suggests his role extended beyond protection to include spiritual and mystical functions, potentially linked to altered states of consciousness and divination.
The findings could significantly impact the study of ancient Egyptian religion and its ritualistic practices. They open the door to new questions about the spiritual lives of ancient Egyptians, their understanding of the mind and the body, and their connections with other Mediterranean and Near Eastern cultures.
“This is not just an important find for Egyptology, but for the entire field of archaeology,” said Greco. “It highlights the power of collaboration across disciplines and opens new pathways to understanding the rituals that helped shape ancient societies.”
The discovery is part of a growing body of research that seeks to explore the use of psychoactive substances in ancient cultures, from the Greeks and Romans to indigenous peoples across the world. As scientific technology advances, more secrets of the past are likely to be uncovered, shedding light on the ways ancient people understood and interacted with the natural and spiritual world.
Study Published in Scientific Reports
The study was authored by Davide Tanasi, Branko F. van Oppen de Ruiter, Fiorella Florian, Radmila Pavlovic, Luca Maria Chiesa, Igor Fochi, Chiaramaria Stani, Lisa Vaccari, Dale Chaput, Giorgio Samorini, Alberto Pallavicini, Sabrina Semeraro, Anastasia Serena Gaetano, Sabina Licen, Pierluigi Barbieri, and Enrico Greco.
